USA > Connecticut > New London County > Biographical review, containing life sketches of leading citizens of New London County, Connecticut > Part 14
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Billings Burch received a good education in the district schools. When fourteen years of age he went to sea as cook on the coasting
schooner "Brakewater." After spending two years in the coasting trade, he was offered the command of a schooner, but preferred to avail of a chance to go on a whaling expedition. On this occasion he shipped as a hand before the mast, and went on a voyage of twenty-one months, going around Cape Horn. Captain Burch has been on eight whaling expedi- tions, serving in the several capacities of boatswain, third mate, second mate, and cap- tain. In the last-named capacity he com- manded the ship "Corva" on the "West Coast " and the "Charles Phelps" twice in the Arctic Ocean. He has been three times around the world, and during his sea voyages took twenty-five thousand barrels of sperm and whale oil, and whalebone enough to make him a millionaire if he had it now. He left the sea forty years ago, and since then has led 'a quiet life at his home in Stonington.
In 1847 Captain Burch married Nancy M. Chesebro, a daughter of Elihu and Nancy (Pendleton) Chesebro and a grand-daughter of Elihu Chesebro, who was a Baptist preacher in Stonington for twenty years. Captain and Mrs. Burch have had six chil- dren, of whom two died in childhood. The others are: Mary, the wife of Harris Pendle- ton, of New London; Nancy Bell, the wife of James V. Trumbull, of Hartford; Oliver C., who lives at home; and Billings, now in New York. Both the Captain and Mrs. Burch are earnest workers and members of the Baptist church.
ANIEL FRANCIS GULLIVER, M. D., for many years a highly es- teemed resident of Norwich, was born in Boston, May 29, 1826, son of Deacon John and Sarah (Putnam) Gulliver. His fa- ther was born in Taunton in 1792, son of Gershom Gulliver, who was one of the min-
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ute-men at Lexington; and his mother was born in Reading, North Parish, now North Reading, Mass. She was a daughter of Dea- con Henry and Mary (Hawkes) Putnam, grand- daughter of Deacon Daniel Putnam, and great - grand-daughter of the Rev. Daniel Putnam, who was the first minister of the North Parish of Reading, where he was ordained and set- tled in 1720, and where he died in 1759. "Minister Putnam" was a son of Deacon Benjamin and grandson of Nathaniel Putnam, who came from England with his two brothers and their father, John Putnam, and settled at Salem, Mass., about 1634.
Deacon John Gulliver was an able merchant and an earnest Christian worker. He died at Pawtucket, R.I., at the age of eighty-seven years. Three of his children - John P., Sarah, and Daniel F .- grew to maturity. Sarah Gulliver is the wife of the Rev. Lew- ellyn Pratt, D.D., of Norwich. The elder son, the late Rev. John Putnam Gulliver, D.D., of Andover, Mass., was the pastor of Broadway Church at Norwich for nineteen years, and was active in furthering the educa- tional interests of the city. To his untiring and effective efforts Norwich owes her Free Academy, which is widely and favorably known.
Daniel F. Gulliver was graduated at Yale College in 1848 and at Jefferson Medical College in 1852. Although a student of fine abilities and by nature well suited to be a physician, he gave up the practice of his pro- fession in a few years on account of his health, and engaged in stock - raising, in which he attained notable success. Being considered an authority on this subject, he delivered a course of lectures at Yale at one time on stock-raising, which attracted very favorable comment. He was a man of refined tastes and keen intellect, a great reader and a
delightful conversationalist. He was a man of deeply religious nature, and at one time took part in revival work in various parts of the State. His zeal and efficiency in this work are still spoken of with enthusiasm. During the last twenty years of his life Dr. Gulliver was connected with the Broadway Church, being for nine years a Deacon. For years he conducted a young men's Bible class, and in that capacity was a power for good. His death occurred on May 22, 1895, just one week before his sixty-ninth birthday.
Dr. Gulliver was married on September 16, 1852, to Mary, daughter of Henry and Eu- nice (Huntington) Strong. Eight children -- namely, Henry Strong, Arthur Huntington, Gertrude Putnam, Charlotte Chester, Fred- eric Putnam, Eunice Henrietta, Benjamin Wolcott, and Robert Joseph - were born of this union; and six are now living. Ger- trude, the eldest daughter, died at the age of three years; and Robert (Williams, 1894) died at twenty-two. Henry (Yale, 1875) is married, and is now teaching in Waterbury, Conn. Arthur (Yale, 1877), also married, is a cotton manufacturer of Ashton, R.I. Char- lotte (Smith, 1883) is now teaching in Nor- wich Free Academy. Frederic (Harvard, 1893 ; Ph.D., 1896) worked for some years in the United States Geological Survey, and is now teaching in Southboro, Mass. Eu- nice (Smith, 1891) is at home in Norwich. Benjamin is living in Providence, R. I.
Mrs. Gulliver's paternal grandparents were the Rev. Joseph and Mary (Huntington) Strong. The Rev. Joseph Strong, D. D., who was born September 21, 1753, and was graduated at Yale College in 1772, was called to the pastorate of the First Church in Nor- wich as colleague of the Rev. Dr. Lord in March, 1778. llis ordination sermon was preached by his brother, the Rev. Nathan
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Strong, D.D., of Hartford; and the charge was given by his father, the Rev. Nathan Strong, of Coventry. He remained pastor of this church till his death, Deeember, 1834. The Rev. Joseph Strong's preaching was simple, but solemn and earnest, and proved very effective. He was a man of command- ing physique, being fully six feet in height, and correspondingly proportioned. The house in which Mrs. Gulliver now resides at Nor- wieh Town was built by him about 1786.
His youngest ehild, Henry Strong, LL. D., Mrs. Gulliver's father, born August 23, 1783, was a graduate of Yale in 1806, and a lead- ing citizen and influential lawyer of Norwich. He died November 12, 1852. His wife, Eu- nice, who died June 19, 1865, at the age of sixty-seven, was the daughter of Joseph and Eunice (Carew) Huntington. She was one of a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom five daughters and three sons grew to maturity. Mrs. Gulliver her- self was the only one of a family of three to reach adult years.
APTAIN NATHAN KEENEY, a native of New London, Conn., com- mander of the steamer "City of Lawrenee," was born on April 18, 1833, son of Josiah and Sarah B. (Maynard) Keeney. His paternal grandfather, Josiah Keeney, Sr., died in 1820, at the age of twenty-seven years. His father, the younger Josiah, who was born in this city on July 1, ISHI, was a sea cap- tain engaged in the coasting trade. In 1832 he married Sarah B. Maynard, of Waterford, Conn. They had five children, of whom they reared but two: Nathan; and his sister, Mary A., who married John Winslow, of New Lon- don. Another daughter, named Lydia A., lived to be ten years of age; and two children
died in infancy. Josiah Keeney, the father, died at the age of fifty-four. His wife sur- vived him twenty -six years, dying at the age of eighty.
Nathan Keeney had limited educational ad- vantages, attending an ungraded school only in the winter time. At an early age he began to go to sea, and he was so rapidly promoted that at the age of twenty-two he became eap- tain. Later he officiated as first pilot for the steamers "City of Worcester " and "City of Lawrence," taking command of the latter in March, 1896. At intervals he has been eap- tain of the steamers "City of Norwich." "City of Lawrence," "City of New York." "City of Boston," "City of Lowell"; and in the summer of 1897 he was captain of the "New Brunswick." At present, as above noted, he is captain of the "City of Law- rence." In politics he affiliates with the Re- publican party.
On April 12, 1859, Captain Keeney was married to Sarah J. Paige, daughter of John F. and Harriet N. (Beebe) Paige. Mrs. Keeney's grandfather Beebe kept the alms- house, which was then loeated where the Bulkley School is now, for eleven years. Her father also kept it there, and on its present site for several years. He was a stone-cutter, and worked on the high bridge across the Harlem River, New York. He also laid the last stone of the New London eustom-house, and was the last survivor of the builders. Mrs. Keeney is one of a large family, of whom six daughters and one son are now living. Iler twin sister, Mary Breckenridge Paige. married William H. Sistare, of this city. Captain and Mrs. Keeney have had eight chil- dren, but have lost four: Lydia A., who died in her sixth year: Ella M., who lived to be only four years and five months; Hattie N., who passed away at the age of nine years; and
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NATHAN KEENEY.
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Flora Mai, who married Walter L. Allen, and died May 22, 1893, without children, at the age of twenty-eight years. She was a graduate of the New London High School, and had been a successful teacher. The sur- viving members of the family are: Sarah A., wife of Nathan E. Geer, of this city; Edgar E. Keeney, of Newport, R. I., who has a wife, three sons, and a daughter; and two interest- ing daughters at home, namely, Lydia, a young lady of musical talent, and Alberta S.
Captain Keeney and his family reside at their pleasant home on Keeney's Lane, in the suburbs of New London, in the house which was built by his uncle, Charles Keeney, forty- six years ago.
INDLOSS H. HILLIAR, of New London, a successful dealer in hardware, was born in Liverpool, England, May 13, 1848, son of Henry and Ellen (Bindloss) Hilliar. The father, who was lost at sea in 1850, at the age of twenty- one, besides a widow left another son, Henry P. Hilliar, now in business at Niantic, New London County. The mother, a native of Kendal, Westmoreland County, England, was a daughter of William and Margaret (Palmer) Bindioss, eight of whose children are now living in this section. Of these William Bindloss is a retired ship-carpenter of Mystic.
Bindloss H. Hilliar came to America with his widowed mother when he was only four years of age. After completing his studies in the Bartlett High School at the age of eighteen, he served an apprenticeship of three years to the machinist's trade, and subse- quently worked at it for seven years. Then he engaged in his present business at 49 Bank Street, under the style of Hilliar & Mallory, which partnership lasted seven years. Since
then the firm name has been Hilliar & Co. They keep first-class goods, and are equal to any emergency in their line of trade. In politics Mr. Hilliar votes the Republican ticket. He is a Master Mason, has member- ship in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and he has been president of the Young Men's Christian Association.
On August 19, 1869, Mr. Hilliar and Luella Benham were united in marriage. Her mother, Frances Bolles Benham, died of consumption in the prime of life, leaving six children, of whom one son and two daugh- ters are living. Her father, Austin Benham, keeps a fish market in this city. Of her six children by Mr. Hilliar, four - Charles Henry, Luella B., Florence, and Raymond A .- are living, and reside at home. Benja- min Austin died at the age of fifteen years, and Edgar Harold passed away at the age of twelve. In 1886 Mr. Hilliar bought two acres of land situated in a desirable location, and built thereon four fine dwellings. In one of these he resides with his family. It is a beautiful residence, equipped with all the modern improvements. Connected therewith is a large hennery, where his wife keeps fow! of the choicest breed.
ONATHAN JEROME PALMER, a prosperous farmer of Preston, whose farm is located on Zion's Hill, was born in Norwich, Chenango County, N. Y., June 28, 1820, son of Benjamin and Betsey (Kendall) Palmer. His grandfather, Jona- than Palmer, who was a native of Stonington, Conn., married a daughter of Christopher Palmer, a distant relation; and they reared twelve children. Benjamin Palmer settled in Norwich, N. Y., where his son, Jonathan Jerome, was born. He married for his first
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wife Patty York, of that town, who died leaving two daughters and two sons. In 1818 he married Betsey Kendall, of Chenango County, New York. Jonathan Jerome, the subject of this sketch, was the only child of this union; and the mother died when her son was but two years old. The father married for his third wife Phebe Ives.
Jonathan Jerome Palmer was brought up by his half-sister. He received a good edu- cation, attending the high school at Colum- bia, Mich., where he lived between the years 1837 and 1841, and where his father died at the age of seventy-five. Returning from Michigan in 1841, he spent one winter in travelling in Pennsylvania and Southern New York with his eldest brother Prentice, who sold Yankee notions and traded in furs. He then occupied himself for two years in the cultivation of his grandfather's farm. In April, 1844, he found employment driving a team for B. A. & J. W. Smith in Mont- ville, Conn., and remained with them one year. In April, 1845, he, moved to Groton, Conn., where he worked for some time in a granite quarry. In the fall of 1846 he moved to Norwich, Conn., where he engaged in the meat business in company with a man by the name of Darrow from Providence, R.I., their market being located at Central Wharf. They ran two meat carts, and Mr. Palmer continued in business there for a num- ber of years. Later, in company with John P. Kingsley, of Norwich, Conn., he con- ducted a market and general provision store at 90 Eighth Avenue, New York City, for some time. He also sold meat for about eleven years in several towns in Connecticut, chiefly Baltic, Versailles, and Taftville. During this time he resided in Hanover, Conn., where he had a farm. This farm he sold in 1867, and moved back to Norwich,
Conn. He was at one time engaged in the manufacture of soap in Binghamton, N. Y., in company with John W. Smith, of Mont- ville, Conn. They did a good business, and sold a number of soap receipts to such men as William Colgate, of New York City, and others. In 1869 Mr. Palmer bought his pres- ent farm of one hundred and fifty acres, situ- ated on the east side of Quinebaug River. Through the farm flows a pretty stream called Chaote Brook, where many a fine black bass and speckled trout may be caught. Besides general farming Mr. Palmer slaughters live stock for the market.
February 8, 1844, he was married in Mont- ville, Conn., to Mary, daughter of Abel Smith. She died in 1862, leaving two chil- dren : Elisabeth, who married George M. Rey- holds, of Chicago, and died in that city at the age of thirty-five, leaving no children; and Albert Jerome, who died of consumption in Norwich, Conn., at the age of twenty-nine years. In 1862 Mr. Palmer married for his second wife Emma M., daughter of Deacon Charles H. Starr, of Groton. By her he had two children - Louisa Starr and Therressa. Louisa Starr became the wife of Charles Lamphere, and died at the age of eighteen after a single year of married life. Ther- ressa died when an infant of two years. The mother of these children passed away in 1877. Three years later, on June 28, 1880, Mr. Palmer married, on his sixtieth birthday. Emma Jane, daughter of Dr. Beckweth, of Angola, N.Y. She was of delicate constitu- tion, and lived but four years after her mar- riage. The present Mrs. Palmer, whose maiden name was Beckweth, was a cousin of his third wife. They were married February 28, 1886. Mr. Palmer is a stanch Prohibi- tionist from the Republican ranks. He is much interested in educational affairs, and
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has served on the School Committee. He is a Baptist in religion, and has been on the Society Committee in several different churches with which he has been connected as a member. He is physically a heavy, robust man, well preserved, and one who en- joys life thoroughly.
RNOLD RUDD, of the New London firm Arnold Rudd & Co., wholesale dealers in flour, feed, and grain, was born near Seneca Falls, N. Y., February 8, 1823. A son of George and Mary (Ar- nold) Rudd, he counts among his ancestors Governor Bradford, of Plymouth. His grand- father, Daniel Rudd, Jr., was a son of Mary Metcalf Rudd, who was a daughter of the Rev. Joseph and Abiel (Adams) Metcalf. Abiel Adams was a daughter of the Rev. William Adams, of Ipswich, and his wife, Alice (Bradford) Adams. Alice Bradford was a daughter of Major William and Alice (Richards) Bradford. Major Bradford was a son of Governor Bradford and Alice (Carpen- ter) Bradford.
Daniel Rudd, Jr., who was born in Con- necticut, and died in Bozrah, at the age of sixty-five years, followed farming in Bozrah, and also conducted a saw-mill which was located on his farm. A soldier in the Revolutionary army, he took part in the bat- tles of Long Island, Harlem Heights, Tren- ton, and Princeton. During the Lexington alarm he served for one day as a private in Captain John Perkins's company, Colonel Josiah Huntington's regiment. Beginning in December, 1775, he was a Corporal in Captain Robinson's company, Colonel Dur- kee's regiment. On July 9, 1779, he en- listed as a private in Captain Nehemiah Waterman's company, regiment of Colonel
Samuel Abbott, and served on a tour of duty to New London. In the fall of that year he went to France in the frigate "Providence," commanded by Captain Whipple, and re- turned in the following April. Drafted for a tour to Horse Neck in July, 1781, he served for two months in that place, under Captain Nehemiah Waterman, of the Connecticut Twentieth. He also served for a few days in New London when that place was burned. On December 7, 1780, he married Abigail Allen, of Montville, Conn., who lived to be nearly a hundred years old. They reared two sons and three daughters, each of whom also reared families. One daughter, Lucy, who was the wife of General Henry Burbeck, at- tained the advanced age of ninety-seven.
George Rudd, born in Bozrah, Conn., Oc- tober 8, 1785, who was a cooper by trade, also followed agriculture, residing for the most of his life on a hundred-acre farm in Montville that was bequeathed him by his mother. He was in military service on the Canadian fron- tier during the War of 1812. His death oc- curred in the spring of 1866. On June 30, ISII, he was married to Mary Arnold, who was born October 13, 1793, and who died in 1883, aged ninety years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rudd rest in the new cemetery on the river in Montville. They were members of the Congregational church until the time of the abolition, movement, when Mr. Rudd was ruled out of the church on account of his bold advocacy of that cause. Of their children, six sons and two daughters, seven attained maturity. A daughter died in early child- hood. Two of the children are now living - Arnold and his brother John. The latter, who is six years younger than Arnold, is a grain dealer, and lives in Montville.
At the age of fourteen Arnold Rudd went to work in a cotton factory, where he was em-
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ployed for two years. Subsequently he was employed in an oil-mill for six years, receiv- ing thirteen dollars and fifty cents per month. When he was twenty-three years old he pur- chased a grist-mill in Montville, contracting a debt of three hundred dollars. Six years later he bought a saw-mill close by. In the spring of 1866 he sold his mill property to- gether with a tract of land, and with the pro- ceeds started in his present business. Begin- ning as a retailer of grain and produce, he steadily enlarged the scope of his operations. Some six years ago he took into partnership Mortimer Beckwith and George M. Cole, em- ployees and kinsmen of his. His business block, a fine three-story brick edifice with commodious basement, at 157, 159, and 161 Bank Street, New London, was erected by him in 1886. He is a trustee of the old Sav- ings Bank and a director of the Union State Bank. His handsome home at 12 Hunting- ton Street was purchased some twenty years ago.
When he was twenty-five years of age he was married to Miss Margaret Lyon, of Mont- ville, Conn., by whom he became the father of two children. These were: John, who died in infancy; and Stephen A., who died in his fourteenth year. By a second marriage, con- tracted in 1870, Miss Louisa C. Beckwith, of New London, became his wife. She has borne him three daughters, of whom one died in infancy. The others are: Mary L., who has attended school in Northampton, Mass., and later became a pupil of Miss Emerson's School in Boston; and Charlotte F., also attending school at Miss Emerson's. Both young ladies are accomplished musicians. Mr. Rudd votes the Republican ticket. He has served the public efficiently at different times, acting as Justice of the Peace in Mont- ville for three years, serving on the Grand
Jury, and fulfilling the duties of Sewer Com- missioner in New London for nine years.
AMES A. BROWN, an honored citizen of Norwich, Conn., residing on Laurel Hill, was born in Middletown, near Newport, R.I., February 19, 1828. His par- ents were George and Elizabeth (Peckham) Brown; and his paternal grandfather was Wil !- iam Brown, a prosperous Rhode Island farmer, who was the father of four sons and two daughters, all of whom attained to years of discretion.
George Brown was born in Middletown about the year 1788, and died February 23. 1853. Elizabeth Peckham Brown, his wife, who survived him a number of years, was a daughter of Peleg and Elizabeth Peckham, of Middletown, R.I. She was the mother of ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are living, James A. Brown, now about seventy years of age, being next to the youngest. The other survivors are: Elizabeth, aged eighty-four, who is living in Lebanon, Conn., widow of Ira B. Tucker, and has no children; George, aged eighty, a farmer in Lebanon, who has one daughter living; Almira L., who is the wife of John C. Palmer, a ranchman and banker at Paxton, Neb., and has one daughter : Peleg P., a liveryman in Jamestown, R.I., who has five sons and one daughter; and Charles H., a real estate dealer in Ogallala, Keith County, Neb., who has five children. Mrs. Brown died in Lebanon, July 10, 1874, at eighty-six years of age, and was buried be- side her husband at Middletown.
James A. Brown passed his boyhood on his father's farm; and up to sixteen years of age he was a pupil of the district school, where he gained a fair knowledge of the rudimentary
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JAMES A. BROWN.
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branches of learning. At eighteen he took up the trade of a carpenter, but a year later he returned to farm labor. After his marriage he removed to Lebanon, Conn., whither his father-in-law had gone, and purchased a farm. From Lebanon Mr. Brown subsequently went to Colchester, and engaged in the meat busi- ness, which he had followed for two years prior to leaving Lebanon. In April, 1869, he em- barked in the wholesale grocery business here in Norwich, having as a partner John C. Palmer, and doing business under the style of Palmer & Brown. When they had been to- gether seventeen years, Mr. Brown purchased his partner's interest, and continued the busi- ness alone for ten years, selling out in April, 1896. During the war he was Captain of the Wide-awakes, and but for the interposition of his friends would have enlisted for active ser- vice at the front, they persuading him that he could ill be spared from the town, where he was untiring in his efforts to relieve the needs of the families of the soldiers in the field.
On December 1, 1850, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Susan Weaver, a native of Middletown and daughter of Abner and Susan (Peckham) Weaver. Her mother died June 23, 1867, aged sixty-six, and her father, May 17, 1875, aged seventy-six. They had seven children; namely, six daugh- ters and a son, George Abner Weaver, of Leb- anon, Conn. The three daughters now liv- ing are: Mrs. Brown; Ruth M., wife of William Brown, of Willimantic, Conn., a brother of James A .; and Emma B. Peckham, of Lebanon. Mr. and Mrs. James A. Brown have a son and daughter: Francis H., of Nor- wich, who is married, and has one daughter; and Ella J., wife of Charles M. Cole, a drug- gist of Newport, who has one son.
In political affiliation Mr. Brown is a Re- publican. In Colchester he served as Con-
stable. He has here served on the Common Council five years, on the Board of Water Commissioners two years, also as Second Se- lectman, and since 1895 as First Selectman. For ten years he was a member of the Com- pensation Committee, having in charge the adjustment of damages, holding the office under both Democratic and Republican ad- ministrations. He is also trustee and director of the Dime Savings Bank. Mr. Brown is a member of the Central Baptist Church, in which he has been a very active worker, and was a member of the Building Committee in the erection of their fine church edifice. Mr. and Mrs. Brown reside at 124 Laurel Hill Avenue.
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